Press Statement
For Immediate Release: December 1 2025
Contact: Asia Russell | (267) 475 2745 | asia@healthgap.org
WORLD AIDS DAY: Activists Block Rush Hour Traffic at White House Protesting Trump and Vought’s Destruction of Lifesaving HIV Programs
Surge in New Infections and Deaths Likely, Experts Say
Trump’s Illegal Chokehold on PEPFAR Funds Means Lenacapavir, a Game Changing Prevention Tool, will be Withheld from Millions, Needlessly Prolonging the Pandemic
PEPFAR Blocking Release of Program Performance Data
(Washington DC) On World AIDS Day, activists from Health GAP, Housing Works, ACT UP Philadelphia and Treatment Action Group blocked traffic at the White House, marking 10 months of disruptions and illegal funding cuts by the Trump Administration to lifesaving global HIV treatment and prevention programs. The protesters, chanting “Trump’s lies kill people with AIDS, restore PEPFAR now,” displayed massive red banners spilling in front of the White House symbolizing the blood on the hands of Administration officials, reading “PEPFAR saves lives” and the names of countries and corresponding number of people living with HIV affected by Trump’s global HIV policies. Photographs available here.
After almost one year of funding cuts and illegal withholding of funding appropriated by Congress for PEPFAR, the latest data show a surge of new HIV infections and deaths on the horizon, a consequence of a 37% decline in new oral PrEP initiation during 2025 caused by Trump’s funding cuts. A projected 350,000 additional child deaths will be brought on by a sharp decline in HIV diagnosis and treatment access among HIV-exposed newborns. HIV kills children rapidly, with 50% of children dying by their second birthday if they do not have access to treatment.
Because of rising pressure, PEPFAR has maintained some funding for HIV treatment programs, but is refusing to release 100% of funds Congressionally appropriated for the program and is refusing to scale up programs to reach 10 million adults and children with HIV still waiting for treatment. PEPFAR is also blocking funding for community-led programs essential to support people on treatment and link them to prevention, particularly LGBTQ+ people, sex workers, and people who use drugs who are at greater risk of HIV infection, because of criminalization and stigma. 49% of all new HIV infections are among key populations and their partners, communities that have had their right to health attacked by the administration.
“Life-saving services have been ripped away from communities around the world,” said Bellinda Thibela of Health GAP. “We demand this Administration abide by the will of Congress, fully restore PEPFAR program funding, and recommit to defeating this pandemic.”
Most recently, as part of the “America First Global Health Strategy,” PEPFAR officials have been negotiating secret multi-year agreements with no Congressional or civil society oversight, outlining dangerous HIV program handovers to governments with no accountability or guardrails. Without transparency, these deals will mean millions denied prevention and treatment services and even further program cuts. For the first time, PEPFAR has also obstructed release of its program performance data; the public is in the dark regarding PEFPAR performance against its own targets.
“The Administration’s illegal and cruel policy decisions are pushing us toward a new wave of preventable HIV infections and deaths,” said Jose DeMarco of ACT UP Philadelphia. They should be ending AIDS–insead hey are prolonging his pandemic.”
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